Material handling device



q 24, 1940- c. E. VAN SYCKLE 2,215,844

MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE Filed Feb. 14, 1939 2 Sheets Sheet l INVENTOR. CfC/Z E VAMSYCALE ATTORNEYJ? Patented Sept. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to, the art of handling materials and is particularly concerned with new and improved tongs for handling coils of steel in strip or sheet form.

l'i Steel in the form of strips or sheets of various widths, lengths and thicknesses is commonly coiled for convenience in handling. Such coils may range in axial length from a' few inches to several feet and in weight from afew hundred pounds to several tons. Magnets are commonly used for handling such coils, but there are many disadvantages inherent in their use.

The present invention avoids many of the disadvantages inherent in the prior handling of devices used for such coils of steel and provides new and improved devices which have many advantages not possessed by prior devices, particularly magnets. r

, Devices embodying the present invention are less dangerous to workmen than magnets, for

coils being carried by these deviceswill not be dropped in case there is a failure of electrical ourrent, as is the case when a magnet is used. The present devices will pick up only the coil or coils to which they are clamped without disturbing adjacent coils. Frequently a magnet will partially lift a coil underneath the one in contact with the 'magnet and then drop the lower coil when the part of its weight which is being lifted by the Such disturbance of the lower coil interfering with the free movement of the coil engaging the magnet and when the coils are being stacked or unstacked, may result in a toppling over of the stack. Where-the headroom is limited it is diflicult to stack or unstack coils for these'reasons.

Devices embodying the present invention can be 7 used in small spaces and can lift and place coils other coils. o

l A crane operator can operate the present devices with the assistance of a single workman to guide the clamping jaws into place on a coil, and the crane operator can then stack the coil and present devices do not crush or damage the coils in any way and can handle one or two coils at a time Moreover, they are relatively inexpensive as compared with magnets and theirmaintenance cost is low.

In the drawings, accompanying and forming a part of thisspeciflcation, Figure 1 ma side view of one form of device embodying the present invention showing the relaline 3--3 of Fig. l;

magnet exceeds the'lifting-power of the magnet.

without disturbing, or being interfered with by,

tive positions of parts thereof prior to being clamped to a coil of steel;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the relative position of parts when in clamping position on a thin coil; 5 Figure 3 is a vertical, sectional view taken on Figure 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevational view of the device of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 showing the latching mechanism in one of its 10 positions;

Figure 5'is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the latching mechanism in another of its positions;

section, taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of a modified form of the device of Figure 1, including means for varying the distance between the clamping jaws; and r 20' Figure 8 is an end elevational view. a

The device of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 may be considered as being composed of an upper frame member A provided with a latching mechanism B, and

a lower frame member (f provided with clamping 25 arms D. I

The upper frame A, as shown in these figures,

. comprises a that metal plate I, generally triangu- C may slide when members A and. C move rela- I tively.

Frame member 0 includes a pair of inverted -T-s haped members, each composed of a vertical plate 6 and a horizontal plate I. The plates 6 are arranged on opposite sides of the plate I of the upper frame and between the strips 5 and are fastened together at their upper ends by a bolt 8-which is enlarged intermediate its ends so as to have a fairly close sliding fit inopening 3. Each 45 release the device without any; assistance. The

horizontal plate I is provided with a U-shaped bracket having legs 9 and a horizontal bottom part II). Pivot pins l I extend thru openings in the ends of plates I and each pin carrle between the plates clamping arms D each composed of 50 two'spaced arms l2. The head of each pivot pin II is flattened to engage with outwardly extend ing projections I; on plate I which prevent rotation of the pins. The upper ends of each pair of v arms I! are disposed on; opposite'sides of plate I lili- Figure 6 is an end elevational view, partly in 15 and are connected together by a pin l4 carrying a roller l5 which has a rather close sliding or rolling engagement with plates 4a and acts as a spacer to prevent interference of the arms with the plates. Clamping jaws l1 and I8 are pivoted on pins 16 between the lower ends of each pair of arms l2. Preferably, one clamping jaw 18 is longer than the other jaw l1 for a purpose presently to be described.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that when the upper and lower frame members are in the position shown in Figure 1 and the device is suspended from a cable, the device may be lowered onto a coil of strip or sheet metal with jaw 18 being located within the coil. If necessary, a workman swings the device as it is being lowered, so that jaw 11 will be on the outside of the coil and the parts ll)" of the brackets will rest on the edge of the coil. When the latching mechanism is actuated to permit relative movement of the two frame, members and the upper member is lifted, the plates 4a which act as slideways for arms D spread apart the upper ends of these arms and press the clamping jaws with load-carrying pressure against the inner and outer surfaces of the coil. Further lifting the member I results in a lifting of the coil clamped between the jaws. When the coil is to be discharged, the device is lowered until the lower end of the coil rests on a supporting surface. Further downward movement of the upper frame moves the jaws into open or unclamping position whereupon the latching mechanism is actuated to prevent relative movement of the two frame members. It will be understood that two coils can be carried by bringing them into side-by-side position and disposing one jaw inside of one coil and the other jaw inside of the other coil. When the arms are pivoted to move the jaws toward each other the coils will be clamped against each other therebetween.

The location of the latching mechanism B is indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 but its structure is shown in more detail in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. This mechanism comprises a plate 20 which is at-. tached to plate I of the upper frame member by bolts 21 arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the guideway defined by one pair of strips 5 and is spaced away from plate I by spacers 22 on bolts 2|. At theupper end of plate 20 is attached an inwardly and downwardly extending L-shaped bracket 23. A headed pin 24 extends thru plate 26 and the lower end of bracket 23. The head of pin 24 is flattened to engage with a flattened projection 25 on plate 26, which prevents the pin from rotating. Cam 26 and wheel 21 are rotatably mounted on pin 24 and are connected together for simultaneous rotary movement. Cam 26, as shown, has'four equally spaced projections 28 and four intervening depressed portions 29. Wheel 21, as shown, has eight equally spaced teeth 30, four of which are aligned with the fourprojections 28 of cam 26.

A dog 3| having an end shaped to conform to teeth 30 of wheel 21, is pivoted to plate 20 and is adjustably spring pressed into engagement with teeth 30 by spring 32 and adjusting nut 33. This dog prevents clockwise rotation of wheel 21 but permits counterclockwise rotation.

Pawl 35 is rotatably mounted on bolt 36 which passes thru plates 20 and l, and a spacer 31 interposed thereon between the pawland plate 20 locates the pawl in the desired position on bolt 36. Pawl 35 has at its upper end a, point 33 shaped to'engage in a correspondingly. shaped notch 39 in the adjacent edge of one plate 6 of the lower frame. Arm extends inwardly and upwardly from pawl 35 and rests on the periphery of cam 26. When the upper end of arm 40 rests on a projection 28 of cam 26, the point 38 of pawl 35 is out of engagement with notch 39 and plate 6. When the upper end of arm 40 is between projections 28 of cam 26, the point 38 of pawl 35 will bear against the side of plate 6 and will engage in notch 39 when the notch is aligned with the point 38.

Two parallel lever arms are positioned on the inner side of plate 20 and are pivoted at one end on pin 46. A bar 41 is pivoted between the other ends of levers 45 for vertical, endwise movement. Its upper end is shaped to engage the periphery of wheel 21 and also to project under a tooth 30 thereof. The bar 41 is spring-pressed into engagement with wheel 21 by spring 48 interposed between the lower end of bar 41 and an abutment 49 on levers 45. Rod 50 is posi-' tioned with its upper end between lever arms 45 and is connected thereto by a pin 5| which is slidable in an elongated slot 52 in the lever arms. Rod 50 carries an adjusting collar 53 at its lower end, a slidable collar 54 bearing against lever arms 45 and a spring 55 between these collars. The lower frame member C carries in alignment with rod '50 an adjustable stop comprising a threaded socket 56 and a headed screw 51 having screw-threaded engagement therewith.

Figure 4 shows the relative positions of parts when the upper and lower frame members are in the relative positions shown in Fig. l, i. e., preliminary to attaching the device to a coil of steel. It will be understood that the coil is standing on end on a support and that the lower frame member is resting on the upper end of the coil. As will be seen, the point 38 of pawl 35 is in engagement in notch 39 of plate 6, the upper end of arm 40 is between two projections 28 on cam 26, the bar 41 is engaged beneath a tooth v30 on wheel 21, spring 55 is partially compressed,

and the weight of the upper frame member is carried by its supporting cable. As the upper frame member is lowered relative to the lower frame member, collar 53 on rod 50 engages stop 51 and spring 55 is further compressed. The

downward movement of upper frame I continues until its lower edge engages the lower frame member, which then carries part of orall'the weight of the upper frame member, and lowers the point 36 of cam 35 so that it can swing out of notch 39 on plate 6. When this condition occurs, spring 55 expands and swings lever arms 45 about their pin 46, this movement of the lever arms being accompanied by endwise upward movement of bar 41 and coincident counterclockwise rotation of wheel 21 and cam 26 for one-eighth of a revolution, the up r end of arm 40 riding up onto the adjacent projection 28 of cam 26 and moving point 38 of pawl 35 out of notch 39 and alear of plate 6. The parts are now in position for relative movement of the upper and lower frame members, and when the cable lifts the upper frame, the latter moves relative to the lower frame which continues to rest on the coil. As the upper frame moves away from the lower frame, levers 45 swing down about their pivot pin under the action of gravity and retract arm 41, the latter being forced beneath the next tooth 36 on wheel '21 by expansion of spring 48. As

the upper frame member continues to move up relative to the lower frame member, the upper ends of arms D are spread apart by the diverging slideways defined by plates 4a and the clamping part GI.

jaws I1 and I8 are clamped tightly against the coil. When the upper and lower frame members have reached the limit of their relative movement as determined by the thickness of the coil, the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. 2. Further upward movement of the upper member is accompanied by a lifting of the coil.

In Figure 5, parts of the latching mechanism are shown in the position they occupy during the latter part of the unclamping operation. Assuming that the coil carried by the device has been lowered onto a support which carries the weight of the coil and the weight of the lower frame member and assuming that the upper frame member has been lowered until it is close to the latter but its weight is still supported from the cable, further downward movement of the upper frame member brings collar 53 of rod 50' into engagement with stop ,51 and swings lever arms 45' upwardly about their pivot, pushing bar 41 upward vertically and rotating wheel 21 and cam 26 counter-clockwise thru oneeighth of a revolution. This rotation of cam 26 moves projection 28 out of engagement with the upper end of arm 40 of pawl 35 and permits the pawl, under the action of gravity, to rotate counterclockwise about its pivot until the point 38 rests against the edge of plate 6. Further downward movement of the upper frame member brings notch 39 of plate 6 up into alignment with point 38 of the pawl and allows the point to seat in the notch. When the cable applies lifting force to the upper frame member, the upper and lower members are latched together by pawl 35'and are lifted without any relative,

movement taking place.

The device shown in Figs. '7 and 8 is substantially like that shown'in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, except that it is provided with means for adjusting the space between the pivots of the arms D. In the device of Figs. '7 and 8, the T-shaped frame members, each composed of plates 6 and l, are connected together at the bottom by a bolt 60 and their opposed surfaces are shaped to provide a circular seat for the cylindrical part 6| of a rod 62 which is oppositely threaded on either side of Pivot members 63, having cylindrical ends to slide in elongated openings 64 of horizontal plates 1', are provided with'squared middle parts 65 threaded. onto rod 62. A hand wheel 66 attached to one end of rod 62 serves to rotate the rod-andshift the pivot members 63 toward and away from each other in slots 64. If desired, a hand wheel 66 may be attached to the other end of rod 62. The rod 62 is turnedto move the pivot members 63 farther apart from each other to accommodate a large coil, or two coils, or toward each other to accommodate a thin coil.

.Altho no latching mechanism is shown in Figs. 7 and 8, it will be understood that the latching mechanism, such for example as that shown in Figs. l,to 6, is to be used with the device of Figs. 7 and 8.

Havingthus described the invention so that those skilled in the art may be able to practice the same, I state that what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is defined in what is claimed.

What is claimed is: i

1. Material handling apparatus comprising upper and lower frame members connected together for relative sliding movement, opposed gripping arms pivoted to one of said members and connected to the other of said members for pivotal movement of the jaw ends thereof toward and away from each other coincident with relative sliding movement of said members, and means carried by one of said frame members for preventing relative sliding movement of said frame members, said means including a rotatable member, a pivoted compression member engaging said rotatable member and adapted to have latching engagement with said other frame member, and movable means for rotating said rotatable member and thereby actuating said compression member out of latching engagement with said other frame member.

2. Material handling apparatus comprising upper and lower frame members connected to-- gether for relative sliding movement, opposed gripping arms pivoted to one of said members and connected to the other of said members for pivotal movement of the jaw ends thereof toward and away from each other coincident with relative sliding movement of said members, and automatic means for preventing relative sliding movement of said members, said means including .a pivoted latch carried by one frame member and engageable with the other frame member, a rotatable member carried by the latch-carrying frame member and substantially continuously engaging with and controlling the position of said latch, and means to. rotate said rotatable member to disengage said latch from said other frame member.

3. Material handling apparatus comprising upper and lower frame members connected together for relative sliding movement, opposed gripping arms pivoted to one of said members and connected to the other of said members for pivotal movement of the jaw ends thereof toward and away from, each other coincident with relative sliding movement of said members, latch means for preventing movement of said arms from open position while the weight'of the lower frame is carried by the upper frame, and means including a positively rotated cam to actuate the latch means into and maintain it in unlatched gripping arms pivoted to one of said members and connected to the other of said members for pivotal movement of the jaw ends thereof toward and away from each other coincident with relative sliding movement of said members, latch means for preventing movement of the jaws from open position while the weight of the lower frame is carried by the upper frame, means including a cam to actuate the latch means into unlatched position, and means for actuating said cam in-- cluding a wheel movable with said cam and means to actuate said wheel.

. 5. Apparatus for handling coils of steel in sheet or strip form comprising upper and lower frames connected together for relative-sliding movement, the upper frame having downwardly diverging slideways, clamping arms pivoted to the lower frame and having their upper ends of said latch, a,wheel' rotatable with said cam,

a bar engageable at one end with said'wheel to rotate the latter, lever means pivoted at one end to said bar andat the other end to the upper 15 frame, a rod connected to said lever means, and a stop on the lower frame engageable with said rod.

6. Apparatus for handling material comprising a cable supported upper frame having a guideway and having downwardly diverging slideways, a lower frame connected to the upper frame for limited sliding movement relative thereto and having means slidably cooperating with said guideway, opposed clamping arms pivoted to said lower frame and slidably cooperating with said slideways for pivoted movement toward and away from each other, and means carried by one frame and cooperating with the other frame for locking said frames and arms in predetermined position, said means including a rotatable cam, an inclined latch pivoted at one end and engageable at the other end with said cam and also engageable with said other frame 20 member.

. 7. Apparatus for handling material comprising an upper frame having a guideway and having downwardly diverging slideways, a lower frame connected to the upper frame for limited sliding movement relative thereto and having means slidably cooperating with said guideway, pivot means slidably carried by said lower frame, op-

posed clamping arms slidably cooperating at their upper ends with said slideways and mounted intermediate their ends on said pivot means, means on the lower frame for adjusting said pivot means relative to each other, and means for locking said arms with their lower ends in open position, said locking means including a pivoted latch and a rotatable cam member engaging therewith to move said latch out of locking position, said latch and cam being carried by said upper frame member.

CECIL, E. VAN SYCKLE. 

